If you’re flying into Avalon Airport (AVV) rather than Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine), your taxi trip looks a little different: it’s a longer drive, the fares are higher, and the pickup process works a bit differently too. Avalon is Jetstar’s second Melbourne base, used for routes to Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, the Gold Coast and Denpasar, and from March 2026 it becomes an international departure point as well, with new Jetstar flights to Bali. Plenty of travellers land here without realising it’s roughly 50km from the city, not 20km like Tullamarine.
This guide covers exactly where to catch a taxi at Avalon Airport, what the trip to Melbourne CBD or Geelong actually costs, how long it takes, and how to book ahead so you’re not stuck waiting after a long flight.
Where Is Avalon Airport, Exactly?
Avalon Airport sits around 50km south-west of the Melbourne CBD and about 15km north-east of Geelong. It’s a single-terminal airport with no aerobridges — you walk across the tarmac to the terminal building, collect your bags, and head straight out to ground transport. There’s no confusion once you’re there, but it helps to know before you land: if someone tells you they’re “30 minutes from the airport,” they’re almost certainly talking about Tullamarine, not Avalon. If your flight is actually landing at Melbourne Airport, our Melbourne Airport terminal pickup guide covers that airport’s four terminals instead.
Avalon Airport Taxi Rank: Where to Meet Your Driver
The taxi rank at Avalon Airport is directly outside the terminal building, so there’s no shuttle bus or long walk involved. Once you’ve collected your luggage, follow the signage through the terminal doors and the taxi rank is right there, alongside the ride-share pick-up bay.
Three taxi operators currently service the airport: 13cabs, Black and White Cabs, and the Geelong Taxi Network. All of them take rank arrivals as well as phone and app bookings. A per-vehicle terminal access fee applies to taxis and ride-share vehicles picking up at Avalon, which is a standard airport charge rather than something the driver adds on — it’s built into the fare you’re quoted. Full details are on Avalon Airport’s own taxi page.
For larger groups or a commercial charter arriving together, the airport asks that collection be arranged directly with the terminal operator in advance rather than relying on the public rank.
How Much Does a Taxi from Avalon Airport Cost?
Because Avalon is well outside the city, fares are noticeably higher than a typical Tullamarine-to-CBD run. As a guide:
- Avalon Airport to Melbourne CBD: approximately $120–$130
- Avalon Airport to Geelong CBD: approximately $40–$50
These are estimates based on standard metered fares and traffic conditions — tolls, time of day, and exact pickup/drop-off points can move the final total. If you’d like a locked-in price before you land rather than a metered estimate, a pre-booked fixed-fare taxi is worth arranging ahead of time. For context on how Avalon fares compare with a Tullamarine transfer, see our breakdown of what a taxi from Melbourne CBD to the airport costs.
Avalon Airport to Melbourne CBD: Transfer Time
A taxi from Avalon Airport to the Melbourne CBD typically takes around 45–50 minutes in normal traffic, running via the Princes Freeway and West Gate Freeway. That can stretch out considerably during peak hour or on a Friday afternoon, so if you’re booked on a connecting service or have an appointment, it pays to build in a buffer — especially since a missed connection from Avalon isn’t as easy to recover from as one at Tullamarine, given the distance back out.
A transfer to Geelong is much shorter, generally around 15–20 minutes, since the airport sits just north-east of the city.
Taxi vs SkyBus vs Rideshare: Which Should You Choose?
A taxi isn’t the only way out of Avalon, so it’s worth knowing the trade-offs:
- Taxi: door-to-door, available 24/7, no shared stops, best if you’re travelling with luggage, a group, or landing late at night. Costs more than the bus but nothing extra to arrange once you land.
- SkyBus: the cheapest option, running direct to Southern Cross Station with one stop at Werribee. It only operates during set daily hours and drops you at the station rather than your door, so you’ll likely need a second taxi or tram from there if your destination isn’t nearby.
- Rideshare: similar cost to a taxi and picks up from a dedicated bay near the terminal, but pricing can rise sharply with surge demand around busy flight banks — something a metered or pre-booked taxi fare doesn’t have.
For most travellers landing with luggage, especially at night or in a group, a taxi remains the most predictable option in both time and cost.
How to Book a Pre-Booked Taxi at Avalon Airport
Booking ahead removes the biggest uncertainty of flying into Avalon — not knowing how long you’ll wait at the rank after a flight lands late. Here’s how to do it:
- Confirm you’re actually landing at Avalon (AVV), not Melbourne Airport (MEL). Check your boarding pass or booking confirmation — the two are easy to mix up and are roughly 30km apart.
- Book your taxi before you fly, giving your flight number so the driver can track any delay and adjust the pickup time automatically.
- Collect your luggage once you’ve disembarked and walked into the terminal building.
- Head to the taxi rank or your confirmed meeting point just outside the terminal doors, where your driver will be waiting or arriving shortly after you land.
You can arrange a pre-booked, flight-tracked pickup through our online booking page, or read more about why pre-booking is worth it if you’re still weighing it up against taking your chances on the rank.
Tips for a Smooth Avalon Airport Taxi Pickup
- Build in extra time if you’re travelling during Melbourne peak hour — the Princes Freeway into the city can slow down significantly.
- Have your flight number ready when booking so a delayed landing doesn’t leave your driver waiting at the wrong time.
- If you’re catching a connecting flight out of Tullamarine later the same day, don’t assume Avalon-to-Tullamarine transfer times are short — they’re two separate airports roughly 30km apart, and a taxi transfer between them can take 40 minutes or more.
- Ask for a fixed fare when booking if you want price certainty rather than a metered estimate, particularly for late-night arrivals when demand (and rideshare surge pricing) tends to be higher.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I catch a taxi at Avalon Airport?
The taxi rank is directly outside the Avalon Airport terminal building. Once you’ve collected your bags, follow the exit signage and the rank is just outside the doors, next to the ride-share pick-up bay.
How much does a taxi from Avalon Airport to Melbourne CBD cost?
A taxi from Avalon Airport to the Melbourne CBD typically costs around $120–$130, depending on traffic, tolls and the exact drop-off point. A trip to Geelong CBD is considerably cheaper, generally around $40–$50.
How long does a taxi take from Avalon Airport to the city?
Around 45–50 minutes to the Melbourne CBD in normal traffic via the Princes and West Gate Freeways, though peak-hour traffic can extend this. A transfer to Geelong is much shorter, at roughly 15–20 minutes.
Is Avalon Airport the same as Melbourne Airport?
No. Avalon Airport (AVV) and Melbourne Airport (MEL, Tullamarine) are two separate airports around 30km apart. Avalon is used mainly by Jetstar for select domestic routes and, from March 2026, international flights to Bali, while Melbourne Airport handles the majority of domestic and international traffic. Always check your boarding pass to confirm which one you’re flying into.
Can I book a taxi from Avalon Airport in advance?
Yes. Pre-booking is recommended given Avalon’s distance from the city — it lets you lock in a fixed fare and have a driver track your flight, so you’re not waiting at the rank if your flight lands late.
Is there a cheaper alternative to a taxi from Avalon Airport?
SkyBus is the cheapest option, running direct to Southern Cross Station with a stop at Werribee, but it only operates within set daily hours and won’t take you door-to-door. A taxi remains the most flexible option if you’re travelling with luggage, in a group, or landing outside SkyBus operating hours.
Flying into Avalon doesn’t need to mean guessing at fares or queuing at the rank after a long flight. Knowing the real distance, the going rate, and where to meet your driver means you can walk straight out of the terminal and into your taxi. If you’d like that pickup locked in before you even board, you can arrange a pre-booked Avalon Airport taxi with flight tracking included, or get in touch through our airport transfer page for group and charter transfers.
